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Set aside 25 per cent of budget for BCs: samiti

Bijapur: Members of the district unit of the Karnataka Rajya Dalit Sangharsha Samiti took out a rally here on Saturday to press their various demands including allocation of 25 per cent of the total budget for schemes for the development of backward communities in the State.

The procession which started from Shri Siddeshwar temple passed through the main streets of Bijapur before it culminated at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to in-charge Deputy Commissioner Chennappagoudar.

In the memorandum, the samiti has said the Government should allot land for creating a burial ground in all taluks of Bijapur for the dead of the Dalits. New hostels in every taluk should be started for pre-university and degree students; ‘Nemmadi Kendras’ should be cancelled; separate fair price shops should be set up in all taluks for Dalits and Below Poverty Line cards should be given to all poor and needy persons in the district.

The samiti has said the Government should issue permanent appointment orders to all Dalit contract workers serving in the city municipal council, gram panchayats and taluk panchayats; construct separate toilets for Dalit women in all villages.